Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

The extended period of rainy weather in July and August and major flooding on July 10 has severely impacted many Vermonters. One sector that has been experiencing major impacts from the weather is Vermont’s forest economy. The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation developed a survey specific to this sector that will assist state agencies and elected officials in determining how to respond. 

Grants can be a great resource to provide additional funds needed to take on larger projects, but they’re often under-utilized because they can be time consuming and involve quite a bit of paperwork. To help Northeast agricultural producers navigate funding options, Farm Credit East recently released an update to its report, Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture. 

This report includes funding opportunities available in the eight states served by Farm Credit East: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Please note that as grant programs often change, this list should not be viewed as a comprehensive compilation of all grant opportunities.

Raising chickens is nothing new. However, a less common practice that has recently started gaining popularity are backyard chickens. More and more people are opting to raise chickens for eggs in their own backyard. Before you jump in, here are a few important things to consider when evaluating whether backyard chickens are for you.